Gladys Reads Spit and Tunes - a book review

Sounds like a punk rock band doesn't it?  Well it is really named Venom and Song, but like everything else in my life I don't call it by it's real name.  You see I get things garbled up sometimes, like my daughter works at a place called Fred's.  I never can remember that so I invaribly call it Franks.  I do the same thing with the title of songs for example the old standard Faded Love turns into the Clorax song.  Oh and don't even get me started on food names, hush puppies turn into shut up dogs and Wesson Oil cake becomes Grease Cake.  See how bad I am at names?  I would blame it on getting old but heck I've been like this since birth.  I'm lucky if I remember by own name much less the names of books, songs, food or even my kids.  I usually just yell "hey you!"  I digress.  This isn't about me but about what I read.
When I was sent this book, Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper, I studied the hard back cover intently. There was a whole lot going on in the picture. A castle, giant flying birds with people riding them, a knight riding a giant dragonfly. I wondered what did I get myself into. This Thomas Nelson published young adult novel is just as imaginative on the inside as it was on the outside.

First let me tell you that this is the second in the Berinfell Prophecies. I know this because it says so on the cover. I wish I would have read book one, Curse of the Spider King, before I read this book but honestly it isn’t necessary. I was able to pick up the story and follow it through to the end. Mr. Batson and Mr. Hopper did a wonderful job of explaining who, what where and when. They even included a list of characters in the front of the book.  I didn't always remember who was what but with the handy guide it wasn't difficult to follow.

The writers create a world in another dimension that is magical as well as exciting and mysterious. Imagine yourself or better said your junior high self a lord in the world of Allyra on a rigorous and dangerous mission to conquer the Spider King. You find yourself being lead by your junior high teacher with a group of gifted and brave cohorts avoiding the whirlpools of Daladge Falls and the phantom army. You learn forgiveness, loyalty, love and faith along the way. This book has a great lesson for the young and old.

I highly recommend this book for not only young teens but for the parents of the same. Why not bring back the reading hour? Why not gather your pre-teen and teens and take turns reading passages instead of turning on the computer or your X-box?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”